IKOYIGATE: Reps set for showdown with NIA Oke, Monguno, others

The House of Representatives is set for a showdown with the suspended director- general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke, and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, for refusal to honour its summon on Tuesday.

The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, as well as the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, were also invited but they failed to show up.

The House committee on National Security and Intelligence led by Aminu Sani Jaji, investigating the recovery of $43.4million, £27,800 and N23.2million uncovered at Ikoyi, Lagos by the EFCC had summoned Oke and others to appear before its hearing, but to the chagrin of the committee members, none of the four invited government officials honoured the invitation.

Unhappy, and feeling neglected, the House committee subsequently issued a fresh 24-hour summon to compel their appearance on Wednesday (today).

The lawmakers said after rising from the meeting, “This is the law of the land, and we have to respect the constituted authorities like the National Assembly.”

Meanwhile, the chairman of House committee on Public Procurement, Wole Oke, in a statement cautioned against the negative impact the probe could have on national security if not well handled.

“We must take note of the fact that the activities of the NIA relates primarily to handling Nigeria’s foreign intelligence and counter-intelligence operations.

“We must always avert our minds to the sacred provisions of Section 45(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered), which treats interest of defence, public safety and public order with utmost primacy,” he said.

The House had on Wednesday, April 26, directed the Aminu Sani Jaji-led committee to investigate the large sums of cash uncovered sequel to the adoption of a motion on the “Need to investigate the NIA over the N13billion recovered from a residential apartment at Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.”

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